Mr.Syfert was all goju,but he was hard more than soft,the other instructor complimented the soft. We would go to Davids house two or three times a week to train and it was alwasy brutal. We started out with a few minutes of stretching,then on to the workout. We would do shiko-dachi(horse stance)as well as many other basics up and down his 1/2 mile driveway for a long while. All the while we were being corrected on our stance,angles,foot and body position,etc.. Then we would run two miles (with Mr.Syfert leaving us behind) to the high school football field. There we would do sprints up and down the bleachers,sometimes on out feet,sometimes on our knuckles. We would run around the track a few times and then on to basics for a while. During basics there were always plenty of knuckle pushups to do. Mr.Syfert had a dry but funny sense of humor and we weren't allowed to laugh at his antics. He would make little piles of gravel for our knuckles,push down on us while we were in a stance,etc.. After a few more training rituals we would run back to his house for sparring(yeah,I was dead tired). Seems like alot of knuckle push-ups and situps found their way into that mix as well.lol!! He would do the counting and reprimanding and we would say "YES SIR" in cadence. Seems like he was a terrible counter as well. "What number was I on Mr.Stone?" ..um 32 sir? "No,ONE!" ..yes sir.. It was always one I found out (I'm a slow learner!) There was always blood letting and puking from someone in class(usually me),but it was a great feeling afterwards,always. David Syfert died of lung cancer in 1998. He was as good instructor as there ever was. I will remember him fondly as that and a good friend as well.Our school still does 25 "Syfert hops" at the end of every class and his space on the certificates will always remain blank. Just thought I'd share with you some memories of some good goju training.

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The2nd ammendment, it makes all the others possible. <///<

Yup, know what you mean, they were the days. Thought about surprising the adult class one knight with some outdoor knuckle push ups in the dirt, might even take them for a short run in the snow, that ought to wake'm up, ha! Sometimes it's nice to have a little shock and awe type "shugyo" style training. I can hear Shihan now,,,"I got a call from Bob last today and he doesn't understand the snow technique you pulled off last night what were you thinking... sorry Shihan it won't happen again"

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The way of the warrior does not include other ways... Miyamoto Musashi
Schanne

My first AKK instructor was somewhat similar in the sense that he would do all kinds of things to break your concentration (tell jokes, fart, drop his pants (!), etc.), and if you laughed or lost it, you had to either start over or do pushups.

We used to run from the dojo to the local H.S. track and work out on the field in the middle. when I was about 15 or 16, I had pizza 30 minutes before going to class. Most are familiar with the Sanchin training where your body is hit from different angles by the sensei while performing this kata...I blew my pizza all over the field after a hard hit to the stomach....and then continued doing the kata. lol

Brian, did you guys ever try training in sand dunes? we used to go to a local quarry and workout. endless reps of squat-kicks were brutal. fun stuff.

A few times we had an entire 2hr class without the dojo lights on.

Sanchin in the snow, at 0F.

some of the training we did in the 70's,80's was probably mis-guided, but at the very least it contributed to building strength and character. The spirit you have to dig deep for to be able to continue....don't know if that kind of training had a direct impact on my technique - but I know that mindset has helped on a few occations. helped with overcoming college, Father's death, divorce, and drinking problem. There was a direct link to the feeling of pushing on, plowing thru and dealing with it. Everyone probably knows the feeling to differing extents. I train differently now - not as physically demanding, but the feeling has stayed with me from the old training days. I'm lucky.

Quote:Brian, did you guys ever try training in sand dunes? we used to go to a local quarry and workout. endless reps of squat-kicks were brutal. fun stuff.

Nope,never in sand dunes. We did go to the cemetary,park,river,etc. I remember doing sanchin kata about 50gazillion times by the river while I was beat on,yeah,pasta before class was a bad idea! You better not miss class just because it was raining or cold! Lightning storms are a no-no though.

Quote: some of the training we did in the 70's,80's was probably mis-guided, but at the very least it contributed to building strength and character. The spirit you have to dig deep for to be able to continue....don't know if that kind of training had a direct impact on my technique - but I know that mindset has helped on a few occations. helped with overcoming college, Father's death, divorce, and drinking problem. There was a direct link to the feeling of pushing on, plowing thru and dealing with it. Everyone probably knows the feeling to differing extents.I train differently now - not as physically demanding, but the feeling has stayed with me from the old training days. I'm lucky.

Ed, I can relate to alot of what you wrote(all except the 70's part *old fart*). You are lucky and we're lucky to have you. I'll tell you,basic training was a breeze after Mr.Syfert,seriously.

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The2nd ammendment, it makes all the others possible. <///<

thanks Brian. I know you know what I'm talking about... I haven't had to really deal with looking Death in the face and giving it the middle finger like you have. I've only had close calls that were over in an instant.